Clamp



No. 6|4,|05. Patented Nov. l5, |398. l. F. HAUFF.

CLAMP.

(Application fixed .nml :12, 189s.) (No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC F. I-IAUFF, oF TEMPLE, TExAS.

CLAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming partiof Letters Patent No. 614,105, dated November15, 1898. Application lecl Tune Z, 1898l Serial No. 682,368. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ISAAC F. HAUFF, a citi- Zen of the United States,residing at Temple, in the county of Bell and State of Texas, haveinvented a new and useful Clamp, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to clamps andits object is to provide a simpleand durable clamp to be used for any purpose-as, for example, springsupona vehicle-axle, &c.-which can be quickly placed in position and asreadily removed and which dispenses with all bolts, nuts, and screws.This and other objects and advantages of a clamp constructed inaccordance with my invention will be hereinafter more fully shown in thedrawings and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my clamp in use. Fig.2 is an end view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of theclamp members removed. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective'view of thelockingkey. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a modied form of clamp inuse upon a vehiclespring.- i

Corresponding parts in the several igures are denoted by like charactersof reference.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2'designate two sections of timberhaving my improved clamp applied thereto, comprising clamp members 3 and4, respectively. The member 4 is in the form of an approximatelyU-shaped strap, having its sides formed into a pair of arms 5 of equallength, the respective ends of which are formed into hooks 6, disposedupon the outside of the strap. The other member 3 is also of anapproximate U shape; but instead of being in the form of a broad strapis simply a thin or narrow clip,

having the extremities of its arms 7 bent into hooks 8, disposed in theplane of the body and at the outside thereof. These two clamp membersare placed upon the timbers 1 and 2 or whatever is to be securedtogether, as shown in Fig. l, having the hooked ends 8 of the members 3disposed between the respective arms 5 of the strap 4, the length of thearms of the two clamp members being of a sufticient length for the hooksto register and form an eye into which the keys 9 are adapted to beplaced to lock the members tightly upon the timbers 1 and 2. Each ofthese keys 9 is wedge-shaped in cross-section, being preferablyelliptical, as plainly illustrated,

with straight edges 10 arranged at the ends of the longest diameter ofthe ellipse and extending the full length of the key, which is formedinto a rectangular wrench-head 11 at one end thereof. By reason' of thekeys being elliptical or roundedupon their sides allows of the samebeing easily turned, as hereinafter described.

When the clamp members have been assembled as above described,`a key 9is inserted at each side and between the respective hooked ends of theclamps with the edges 10 transverse, which allows of the keybeing easilyinserted, when a wrench is applied to the head 11 and the key turneduntil the respective edges 10 are seated in notches 12 in each of therespective hooks, thus firmly drawing the clamps together and lockingthe key from accidental displacement. To unclamp the device, it issimply necessary to turn the keys by use of a wrench, and the membersare at once free to be removed.

The device as above-arranged is used to clamp two timbers or thelikelongitudinally one upon the other; but where the two pieces crosseach other at an angle another form is necessary, which is shown in Fig.5. In this arrangement l have shown a modified form of clamp forconnecting a spring upon the shaft of an axle, in which 13 designates anaxle and 14 a spring secured thereto by my clamp. The clips 15correspond to the clamp member 4, which could be used here just as well;but the clips 16 diier from the clip 3 by having their hooked ends 17disposed at right angles to the plane of the body of the clip in orderto aline with the hooks 18 of the clips 15, the only difference betweenthe two forms of clamp being the disposition of the hooked ends of oneof the members.

It will thus be readily understood that the clips maybe interchanged andeither one used in conjunction with the other, and instead of using oneclip 3, as in Fig. 1, two more might be used by forming the key 9somewhat longer and arranging the clips at each side ofthe clamp 4. Theclips 3, instead of being narrow bands, may be broad straps having thehooked end portions reduced in width to fit between the arms 5 of theclamp 4.

ICO

Other changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of my devicemay be made without departing from the spirit and scope or sacrificingany of the advantages of .my invention, and I therefore do not wish tobe understood as limiting myself to the precise construction andarrangement as herein described, and shown in the drawings.

By the combination of the loop clamp members having hooked ends toreceive a wedgeacting key I have provided a simple, durable, andeffective clamp which does away with the use of all bolts, screws, andnuts, which soon become worn or lost and thus render a clamp useless.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed, and desired to besecured by Letters Patent, is-

1. A clamping device, comprising approximately U-shaped clips ormembers, having their ends formed into hooks, the hooks of therespective clips being reversely arranged, and

keys inserted between the respective pairs of hooks, substantially asshown and described.

2. A clamping device, comprising approximately U -shaped clips ormembers having their ends formed into hooks, the hooks of the respectiveclips being reversely arranged and provided with notches, and keysinserted between the respective pairs of hooks, and elli ptical incross-section, forming a pair of oppositely-disposed longitudinal edges,and provided with a wrench-h ead at one end thereof, whereby the key maybe turned and the edges thereof caused to seat themselves in the notchesof the respective hooks, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a clamping device, the combination of an approximately U- shapedstrap, having each of its sides formed into arms, the arms of therespective sides being spaced apart and the oppositely-arranged pairs ofarms having their extremities formed into reversely-disposed hooks, thelatter having notches as described, and an approximately U -shaped cliphaving its ends formed into reversely-disposed hooks arranged in theplane of the clip, with a key having a pair of longitudinal edges formedat opposite ends of the greatest diameter thereof, and provided with awrenchhead at one end, whereby the key may be turned and the edgesthereof caused to seat themselves in the said notches formed in theinner face of the respective hooks, substantially as shown anddescribed.

4:. In a clamping device, the combination with a pair of approximatelyU-shaped clips having their extremities respectively formed intoreversely-disposed hooks, arranged in the plane of the clip, and a pairof approximately U shaped clips having their extremities formed,respectively, into hooks arranged at right angles to the plane of theclip and upon the same side thereof, the hooks of the respective pairsof clips being reversely arranged, and keys inserted between therespective pairs of hooks, each key being elliptical in cross-sectionforlning a pair of oppositely-disposed longitudinal edges, substantiallyas shown and described.

5. A clamping device, comprising clips or members having their endsformed into hooks, the hooks 0f the respective clips being reverselyarranged, and keys inserted between the respective pairs of hooks,substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC F. HAUFF.

Witnesses:

C. P. DODGE, W. W. STEPHENS.

